Loading...
Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are caused by bacterial infections in about half of all cases; the remaining cases are caused by viruses or environmental irritants. Cochrane investigators performed a meta-analysis of 16 randomized controlled trials in which the effects of antibiotics were compared with placebo for managing COPD exacerbations. In this summary, we focused on the seven trials that involved inpatients.
Among 612 non–intensive care unit (ICU) inpatients with severe exacerbations, antibiotics significantly lowered treatment failure (defined as no resolution or deterioration of symptoms, need for additional antibiotics or other medication, or death due to exacerbation) at 4 weeks (42% vs. 52%; number n…